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Tracking Vegetation Transitions Due to Invasion of Cattail (Typha) in Lake Superior Coastal Peatlands

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Abstract

Invasive cattails (Typha angustifolia and Typha × glauca) pose a problem for many Laurentian Great Lakes wetlands, especially sedge/grass meadows. In western Lake Superior, early signs of invasion into sedge-dominated peatlands along the Kakagon and Bad Rivers, owned and managed by the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, were noticed in the early 1990s. In 1998, we began tracking expansion of Typha patches and assessing causes and ramifications. Perimeters of patches were delineated with GPS, with repeat delineations in 2005 and 2013. At the Kakagon site, permanent transects were established tangential to the 1998 patch perimeters and perpendicular to those transects, extending into the cattails and outward into sedges. Plant communities were sampled along transects in all years. Transects across stands of non-invasive Typha latifolia were sampled for comparisons but showed little change. In 2005, area encompassed by the Kakagon River patches increased by 66% from 1998; increase was 143% by 2013. The Bad River patches increased by 25% in 2005; further analyses were not possible because some patches had coalesced. Across years, mean Importance Value (IV) for invasive Typha increased for all tangential and perpendicular transects, reflecting expansion into adjacent sedge meadow. Among changes in other species, mean IV for dominant sedge Carex lasiocarpa also decreased on both transects. Typha invasion seems to be directional and not cyclical in relation to lake-level changes, which might have future influence. Given the tendency for early Typha expansion, land managers should scout for new patches and begin treatment soon after discovery.

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Data Availability

All data produced from this study are provided in this manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for fieldwork in 1998, 2005, and 2013 was provided by the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to J. Meeker (and S. Johnson co-PI in 2013). Staff of the Bad River Band that provided logistical support include E. Soulier and J. Strand. The Band’s seasonal staff provided boat transportation and guide support. Dale Soltis and Jeremy Ridlbauer assisted in the 1998 field sampling, V. Hofman shared sampling in 2005, and J. Elias and M. Hogfeldt helped sample in 2013. T. King generated the GIS figures in 2005, and J. Mead generated the GIS figures and conducted spatial analysis in 2013. Manuscript figures were created with assistance from A. Graham and G. Lawrence. We thank R. Schultz for a helpful review of a draft of the manuscript. We also thank Joan Elias for accessing and providing some data sets that were determined to be necessary during preparation of this paper after the passing of her husband, senior author Jim Meeker. The scientific community, especially wetland scientists in the Great Lakes, suffered a great loss when this kind, passionate, and insightful naturalist was taken from us.

Funding

Funding for fieldwork in 1998, 2005, and 2013 was provided by the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Biology, Northland College, Ashland, WI, 54806, USA

    James E. Meeker & Sarah E. Johnson

  2. Department of Environmental Science and Ecology, SUNY Brockport, Brockport, NY, 14420, USA

    Douglas A. Wilcox

  3. Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Odanah, WI, 548061, USA

    Naomi Tillison

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  1. James E. Meeker
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  4. Naomi Tillison
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Contributions

Meeker and Wilcox conceived study. Meeker and Johnson conducted data collection and did data analyses. Tillison provided critical site information and coordinated field efforts. Wilcox wrote much of the manuscript with assistance from other authors on selected parts.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Douglas A. Wilcox.

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Consent provided by Mike Wiggins, Chairman, Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

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James E. Meeker is deceased.

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Meeker, J.E., Wilcox, D.A., Johnson, S.E. et al. Tracking Vegetation Transitions Due to Invasion of Cattail (Typha) in Lake Superior Coastal Peatlands. Wetlands 43, 18 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-023-01664-9

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